Sea Turtles in Texas

Some of the threats these sea turtles face in the Gulf are drowning in shrimp nets, getting caught in hook and line, vehicle traffic, development of beaches, ocean and light pollution. Sea Turtle populations are slowly recovering thanks to the collaborative effort of the scientific community, grass roots organizations and many dedicated people.
 

One such species of sea turtle, the Kemp's ridley, is the smallest and the most critically endangered. They were listed in 1970 under the Endangered Species Act. There are approximately 2,500 nesting females left in the world today. However, just 50 years ago, 40,000 females were filmed nesting in just one day on a single beach. Due to more stringent laws, requirements for shrimp boats to use TEDS (Turtle Excluder Devices) and head start programs have all aided in the slow but hopeful return of this magnificent sea dwelling herp. The shell of the Kemp's ridley ranges in color from an olive to gray-green and is oval or heart shaped. The food of the adult Kemp's ridley includes crabs, shrimp and fish.

 

 

Female Kemp's nest only in the Gulf of Mexico. It is the only sea turtle that consistently nests during the day. Kemp's ridleys and Olive ridleys share a unique nesting behavior known as the arribada (which means "arrival" in Spanish). Breeding female turtles congregate in the waters in front of the beach and, on some as yet unknown cue, emerge from the sea all at once. Nesting season usually occurs from April to July. Kemp's ridleys lay about 100 eggs in each nest. Egg incubation takes from 48 to 62 days depending on the temperature of the sand.  Today, the most significant nesting sites of the Kemp's ridley are at Rancho Nuevo and Veracruz, Mexico. A small, but growing, number of females is re-establishing a nesting colony at Padre Island National Seashore, on the Texas coast and the numbers are on the rise!

 

 

Our Veterinary Department at the Houston Zoo examines and treats injured and sick sea turtles on the upper Texas Coast. We hold Sea Turtle Saturday events to increase awareness about the plight of sea turtles and to hold training sessions for new sea turtle patrollers. Education programs for teachers and students about sea turtle conservation efforts in Texas. Assist in funding for 1-866-TURTLE-5 signs that are posted on Galveston beaches. The public information line is sponsored by Sea Turtle Restoration Project. A Conservation Department staff member conducts weekly patrols in Galveston during nesting season. A donation from the Houston Zoo and many generous Zoo supporters to help fund the 2009 nesting patrol season.

FIND A SEA TURTLE? To report a nesting sea turtle, hatchlings, sea turtle eggs, or an injured or dead sea turtle on the Texas coast, call toll free:   1-866-TURTLE-5

  

 

If you see tracks that look like the one in this picture please call 1-866-TURTLE-5. These tracks will run relatively straight from the water to the dunes, and if they have already finished nesting, there will be another set of tracks running back to the water. Tracks for the Kemps ridley will be drags about 2 ft across in diameter and you should see marks from their flippers and flipper claw as well.

 

Picture by Mark Bane

 

 

 

 

The Kemp's ridley needs your help today!
Please consider a donation to the Houston Zoo Conservation Program.